Career comparison
Brickmason vs. Molder and Caster
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Brickmasons earn more at the median ($62,120 vs. $46,170), while molder and casters usually get to work faster (A year or more on the job of training). Brickmasons build durable walls, chimneys and structures from brick, block and stone. Molder and casters cast concrete, plaster, stone and composites into molds to make products.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Brickmason | Molder and Caster | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,120 ($29.87/hr) | $46,170 ($22.20/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $44,820 – $100,010 | $35,850 – $61,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.1% (slower than average) | +5.8% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 4,100 | 5,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) | A year or more on the job |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | PCI certification |
| Work setting | Masons work outdoors on residential, commercial and institutional construction, often on scaffolds. | Workers are in precast plants, countertop shops and art foundries.. |
What each job does
Brickmason
- Read blueprints and lay out walls
- Mix mortar to the right consistency
- Build leads and set string lines
- Lay brick and block in level, plumb courses
- Install wall ties, flashing, weep holes and reinforcement
Molder and Caster
- Prepare molds
- Apply release agents
- Place reinforcement
- Pour materials
- Vibrate and finish
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, working outdoors, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as patience and precision and teamwork.
Which should you choose?
Choose brickmason if…
- I like building things that last
- I’m comfortable with heavy physical work
- I take pride in neat, precise results
Choose molder and caster if…
- I like building things
- I can lift
- I like teamwork
Still torn? Take the Brickmason fit quiz and the Molder and Caster fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, brickmason or molder and caster?
Brickmasons earn more at the median: $62,120 versus $46,170 for molder and casters, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Molder and Casters typically train faster (A year or more on the job) than brickmasons (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects molder and casters to grow +5.8% from 2025–35, compared with +1.1% for brickmasons.